Writers › Writer / Poet

Liu Yiqing

Liu Song prince of Linchuan and provincial governor whose circle of scholars produced A New Account of the Tales of the World

Liu Yiqing was a son of Liu Daolian, Prince of Changsha, and a nephew of Liu Yu, founder of the Liu Song; adopted as heir by his uncle Liu Daogui, he inherited the title Prince of Linchuan. In the Yuanjia era he served as director of the Palace Library and as governor of Jingzhou, Jiangzhou and Southern Yanzhou. His biography in the *Book of Song* (*Songshu*) says he loved letters, and writers such as Yuan Shu and Bao Zhao served on his staff. He wrote a work on the worthies of Xuzhou, and the bibliography of the *Book of Sui* (*Suishu*) lists under his name both *A New Account of the Tales of the World* (*Shishuo xinyu*), in eight chapters, and the ghost-story collection *Records of the Hidden and Visible Worlds* (*Youming lu*), generally seen as work of his circle. He died in the capital in 444, aged forty-two, and was named Prince Kang. Liu Xiaobiao's Liang-dynasty commentary on the *Shishuo* quotes many Wei and Jin works now otherwise lost.

Life and times

  1. 403 CEBornJinNorthern and Southern
  2. 444 CEDied

Works

  1. Literature · Fiction48
    1. A New Account of Tales of the WorldNorthern and SouthernLiu Yiqing's Liu Song collection of anecdotes about Wei–Jin notables, in thirty-six categories
    2. A New Account of Tales of the World: Chanting of SnowNorthern and Southern
    3. A New Account of Tales of the World: Supreme and Exquisite WordsNorthern and Southern
    4. A New Account of Tales of the World: Guan Ning Severing the MatNorthern and Southern
    5. A New Account of Tales of the World: Zhou Chu Eliminating the Three EvilsNorthern and Southern
    6. +25 more
      1. A New Account of Tales of the World: Wang Ziyou's Snowy Night Visit to DaiNorthern and Southern
      2. A New Account of Tales of the World: Shi Chong and Wang Kai Vying in ExtravaganceNorthern and Southern
      3. A New Account of Tales of the World: Speech and Conversation (Excerpt)Northern and Southern
      4. A New Account of Tales of the World: Part OneNorthern and Southern
      5. A New Account of Tales of the World: Part TwoNorthern and Southern
      6. A New Account of Tales of the World: Part ThreeNorthern and Southern
      7. A New Account of Tales of the World: Virtuous ConductNorthern and Southern
      8. A New Account of Tales of the World: Speech and ConversationNorthern and Southern
      9. A New Account of Tales of the World: Affairs of StateNorthern and Southern
      10. A New Account of Tales of the World: Letters and ScholarshipNorthern and Southern
      11. A New Account of Tales of the World: The Square and ProperNorthern and Southern
      12. A New Account of Tales of the World: Cultivated ToleranceNorthern and Southern
      13. A New Account of Tales of the World: Insight and JudgmentNorthern and Southern
      14. A New Account of Tales of the World: Appreciation and PraiseNorthern and Southern
      15. A New Account of Tales of the World: Grading ExcellenceNorthern and Southern
      16. A New Account of Tales of the World: Admonitions and WarningsNorthern and Southern
      17. A New Account of Tales of the World: Quick PerceptionNorthern and Southern
      18. A New Account of Tales of the World: Precocious IntelligenceNorthern and Southern
      19. A New Account of Tales of the World: Virility and BoldnessNorthern and Southern
      20. A New Account of Tales of the World: Appearance and MannerNorthern and Southern
      21. A New Account of Tales of the World: Self-RenewalNorthern and Southern
      22. A New Account of Tales of the World: Admiration and EmulationNorthern and Southern
      23. A New Account of Tales of the World: Grieving for the DepartedNorthern and Southern
      24. A New Account of Tales of the World: Reclusion and DisengagementNorthern and Southern
      25. A New Account of Tales of the World: Worthy WomenNorthern and Southern
    7. Open all works→
  2. Literature · Sayings17
    1. A Crane among ChickensNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: standing out from the crowd
    2. A Rising TalentNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: a rising young talent
    3. Too Much for the Eyes to Take InNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: too much for the eyes to take in
    4. Quenching Thirst by Thinking of PlumsNorthern and SouthernIdiom from Cao Cao's ruse in A New Account of Tales of the World: consoling oneself with fancy
    5. Leading into WonderlandNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: enthralling, drawing one into wonder
    6. +12 more
      1. Too Many to Take InNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: too many sights or tasks to keep up with
      2. A Hundred Feelings MingledNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: a hundred feelings welling up at once
      3. Overbearingly AggressiveNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: aggressively overbearing
      4. Viewing a Leopard Through a TubeNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: a partial view, or the whole from a part
      5. The Son-in-Law Lying on the East CouchNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: Wang Xizhi chosen while lounging on a couch
      6. Belly Bare on the Eastern Couch: Wang Xizhi Chosen as Son-in-LawNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: a son-in-law, and natural ease
      7. Guan Ning Cuts the Mat in TwoNorthern and SouthernIdiom from the New Account of Tales of the World: a friendship cut with a knife
      8. Superb Words: Yang Xiu Solves the Riddle on the Cao E SteleNorthern and SouthernIdiom from A New Account of Tales of the World: superb words hidden in a riddle
      9. Yellow Silk and Young Woman: The Riddle of Cao E's SteleNorthern and SouthernIdiom from the New Account of Tales of the World: Yang Xiu solves the riddle before Cao Cao
      10. Catkins Rising on the Wind: Xie Daoyun's Snow SimileNorthern and SouthernLine from A New Account of Tales of the World: Xie Daoyun likens snow to willow catkins
      11. What Does the Falling Snow Resemble? Xie An's Question to His FamilyNorthern and SouthernLine from A New Account of Tales of the World: Xie An tests the young with a snowy riddle
      12. Shattering the Coral with an Iron Ruyi: Shi Chong's Contest of WealthNorthern and SouthernFrom A New Account of Tales of the World: Shi Chong smashes coral with an iron sceptre
  3. Literature · Fables2
    1. Gazing at Plums to Quench ThirstNorthern and SouthernAnecdote in the Shishuo Xinyu: Cao Cao tells his parched troops a plum grove lies ahead
    2. Seeing the Leopard Through a TubeNorthern and SouthernAnecdote in the Shishuo Xinyu: the boy Wang Xianzhi judges a game and is teased for it

Family tree

  1. Direct kin
    Liu Yiqing
    Paternal uncle (father's younger brother)
    Liu Yu